CSIRO at the core of ?significant breakthrough? for energy security.

Exclusive: Australia set for world-first hydrogen vehicle trial

Australia will host a world-first trial for hydrogen-powered vehicles in 2018 following a CSIRO breakthrough for fuel cell technology.

The CSIRO will use a new membrane reactor to transform liquid ammonia into pure hydrogen to fuel green cars operated by Hyundai and Toyota.

The research body's expertise in affordably converting liquid ammonia to pure hydrogen could result in Australia becoming a major supplier of sustainable energy throughout the Asia-Pacific.

Dr David Harris, research director of low emissions technology at the CSIRO, said the process is "a missing link" in the drive for sustainable energy in Australia and abroad.

Through electrolysis, electricity sourced from sunlight can separate water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen can then be combined with nitrogen to form liquid ammonia.

"Hydrogen is a method of storing solar energy and the ammonia gives us a way to transport it," Dr Harris said.

"You have a mechanism to transport solar energy all over the world using existing infrastructure – ships, ports and railways."

Hyundai revealed a new type of hydrogen fuel cell-powered car in Seoul this week.

More than 20 examples of the yet-to-be-named Hyundai SUV will come to Australia in 2018, when it will become the nation's first commercially available fuel cell vehicle. The semi-autonomous machine has an electric motor and battery with a range of up to 800 kilometres, taking on hydrogen as its fuel source and emitting water as its only waste product.

Hyundai and Toyota already have hydrogen-powered vehicles for research and development in Australia, though neither can be purchased by regular motorists as refuelling infrastructure is extremely limited.

Dr Sae Hoon Kim, head of Hyundai's fuel cell research division, said the new car will meet motorists' requirements once refuelling infrastructure is widespread.

"Technically we are ready, now we only need political decisions or social decisions," Dr Kim said.

"The world is going for renewable [energy], and renewable is abundant, especially in Australia."

"If renewable becomes the main energy in Australia, the most probable way is in hydrogen form."

Renewable Hydrogen director Brett Cooper says the CSIRO's work with Hyundai and Toyota could represent a "significant breakthrough", particularly is Australia invests in sustainable energy sources such as wind and solar power.

"That will be the first time in the world that hydrogen that has come via the ammonia pathway into fuel cell vehicles," Mr Cooper said.

"We think that we can export hydrogen in the form of liquid ammonia.

"Our target markets are going to remorselessly be decarbonising their energy sources - we could be exporting fuel without any carbon in it."

Scott Nargar, Hyundai Australia manager of future mobility and government relations, says the combination of hydrogen and ammonia also has the potential to address "a big problem with fuel security in Australia".